Supply carrier for braiding machines



Sept 20, 1932. H. a. ROBINSON SUPPLY CARRIER FOR BRAIDING MACHINES Filed March 15. 1930 INVENTOR Y 6 Rosmsou,

A TORNEY I a z 1 7 2 II I I I g R. .d J 6 w W w 2 A y .1 M II] H. .lhHH ,i M [l1 :1 I ii. l w M H1 f1|:l\ m 7 6 I 2 P 2 9 6 5 i J 6 SeptrZO, 1932. H. a. ROBINSON SUPPLY CARRIER FOR BRAIDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet I Filed March 15, 1930 M80 1, Mm

ATTORNEY Emm 1 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 oulrso stares raiser lorr es HARE-Y e. nonrlvson. or WATERBUBY, GONNECTICUT, nssrelvon T rnn'osrnrns 0F AMERICA, me, A oonronA'rIoN or DELAWARE SUPPLY CARRIER FOR IBE-AIDING MACHINES Application filed March 15, 1930. Serial No. 435,984.

The present invention relates to appliances for controllingthe delivery of yarn, thread, or other articles of similar character, such as wire and filaments, and is of particular utility when embodied in the construction ofa supply carrier for braiding machines, although I contemplate the utilization of my improvements in any field for which they are adapted.

An object of the present invention is .to apply a'constant tension of uniform character to the thread or the like as it is delivered from a supply carrier to a braiding machine or other mechanism in which the material is being used, the let off arrangementsbeing characterized by means for controlling them positively and with great sensitiveness. In braiding machines of the sinuous orbit type each thread support, including the let oif and tension mechanism therefor, is mounted on a carrier which is compelled to pursue a sinuous orbit due to the successive engagement of the carrier base with driver disks which rotate alternately in opposite directions. It is tobe noted that the carrier base, aside from'rotating through an angle of 360 degrees at each revolution is subjected to intermediate partial rotations first in one direction and then in the other due to engagement with the driver disks. It is not desirable to impart such intermittently reversed rotational movements of the carrier to the thread support and let off mechanism, owing to the danger of snapping of thread asthe thread support is violently slung this way and that bythe sinuous motion of the carrier. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a floating thread support which has perfect freedom of motion, within predetermined limits, relative to the carrier base.

In my copending application, Serial No.-

between iwhichthe thread support may assume any'position ortake on any movement that may be dictated by its own inertia.

Another object of the invention is to employ a stopmeans which will permit the'rel ative rotation between the thread support and the carrier of considerably morethan 360 degrees. s 7

As braiding machines operate at high speed, the intermittent reversals of direction of the carrier result in yanking the thread support back and forth so violently as to result in frequent breakage of the carrier. Usually the carrier consists of a base supporting a spindle upon which the thread support is mounted. In practice the spindle is apt to break atits base or pointof connection to the carrier base. It is an object of the present invention to overcome this defect by providing a yielding connection be- 1igween the thread support and the carrier ase. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a much more compact thread support thereby reducing, to ailarge extent, the centrifugal forcesgenerated in the machine. To this end I provide a structure in which that part of the let ofi mechanism which controls the tension on the thread is located close to the axis of the carrier spindle and part of the tension mechanism is enclosed within the thread support itself. Furthermore a detector mechanism for detecting broken. threads and causing the machine to stop when such: break occurs is also centrally located and passes down through the thread support and through the'center' of the carrier base. i i i Another object of the invention is to proinvention and shall thereafter define the 110vcity and scope of the invention appended claims. I

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a carrier with the let off and stop mechanism thereon showing a cop tube or bobbin on the carrier, the yarn on the bobbin-being indicated by broken lines; v f Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 22 ofFig. 1.; .Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section take on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 but with certain parts of the mechanism-removed.

within the Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a top-guide and part of the tension mechanismand top guide;

Fig. 6 is a view looking from the right hand side of Fig. 5 showing also a tripping device for a stop mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a view in section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a stop disk and bobbin support; 1 j Fig. 9 is an edge view of a plurality of stop washers which cooperate to'limit the motion of the carrier bobbin on its spindle.

Fig. 10 is a view largely in longitudinal section of the spindle and carrier disk; and

Fig. 11 is a view of a bracket carried by the spindle and providing a support for the let off and tensioning'mechanisms.

As best shown in Fig. 10, the carrier comprises aspindle 15 which is .threadedat its lower end, and on this threaded end is screwed a carrier disk 16'. Fitted upon the spindle 15 and resting upon a shoulder on the carrier 16 are a number of stop washers such as shown in Fig. 9 and also in Fig. 1 and indicated by the numerals 17, 18, 19 and20 respectively. The carrier disk is formed with a lug 21 projecting laterally from the upper shouldered portion thereof. This lug is adapted to engage a downwardly bent ear 22 formed on the washer 17. Diame'trically opposite the ear 22, the washer 17 is formed with an upwardly'bent ear 23. The washer 19 is also provided with a downwardly bent ear 24 and a diametrically opposed upwardly bent car 25, while the washer 20 is formed with a single outwardly extending ear 26. The washer 18 is a plain diskwith no projections and serves merely as a spacer between the washers 17 and 19. 7 p U Mounted to turn on the spindle 15 above the washers is a frame 27 which carries the let ofl mechanism as will beexplained hereinafter. The frame 27 is formedwith an uptube 31 is formed interiorly with an annular stop member or ring 32. A threaded stem 33 at the top of the spindle 15 passes through the ring 32 and a nut 34 is screwed to the stem 33 against the ring 32 to retain the frame 27 upon the spindle 15 and yet permit relative rotation between the spindle and the frame. 7 u

The column 28 rises from a cylindrical bearing'part 35 formed on the frame and upon which a sleeve 36 is mounted torotate. This sleeve encircles the column 28 and the lower part of' the tube 31 and is 'journaled at its upper end on a bearing collar 35 which secures the tube 31 to the column 28. A flange plate 36 secured to the collar overlaps the end of the sleeve 36 and serves to hold the latter in place. The sleeve 36 provides support for a cop tube or bobbin 39 which carries the supply of thread. The bobbin is formed with laterally projecting feet 40 at its lower end which are adaptedto engage pinsf41 carried by the stop disk 37.

The arm 29 of the frame 27 is provided at its outer end with an upwardly projecting post 42 which is preferably of angular cross section. Mounted to slide on this post is a sleeve or rider 43 also of angularcross-section, so that it will not turn on the post. The lower end of this rider normally rests on a shoulder 42. of the post 42, being pressed thereagainst by a compression spring 44. The

latter is mounted on the post and fits between the rider 43' anda collar 44' at the top of the post. A sleeve 45 of fabric or other flexible material is fitted over the spring. This sleeve isshellacked or otherwise secured at one end to the rider and at the other to the collar, thereby serving as a guard .to prevent lint from entering and clogging the spring 44,and at the same time offering no interference to proper functioning of the spring. The lower end of the rider43, when resting on the shoulder 42, is in such position as normally to engage one of the teeth 38 of the stop disk. The upper end of the rider 43 is formed with a hook 46 which, in service, is normallyengagedby the thread from the bobbin, so that when the thread is drawn taut, it. will raise the rider on the post to clear the teeth 38 and permit the bobbin support 36 to rotate relatively to the frame 27. 'The upper end of the post 42 carries a thread guide which consists of a wire 47 bent to form a loop 48 near its lower end and an eye 49 at its upper end. I

' A tensioning device is carried by the tube 31. v A hollow head 52 is fitted'into the upper evaseo end with an eye 54 through which the thread is passed. When in idle position, the arm is held substantially horizontal, as shown in F i s. 6 and 7, by a spring 55 which exerts a diwnward pull upon an anchor rod 56 connected by link 57 to the arm 53. The anchor rod 56 is provided at its lower end with a head 58 which slides within a tube 59 and against which the spring 55 presses. lVlien tension arm 53 is in its idle position, the head 58 rests upon the bottom of the tube 59..

Projecting from the top of the head 52 is a thread guide 60 which is formed at its upper end with an eye 61 and is bent at an intermediate point to form a saddle 62 through which the thread'or yarn. is guided from the eye 49 of the let=off guide to the eye 54 on the end of the tension arm. In service,the arm 53 will be raised to a point just below the eye 61, as shown in Fig. 1.

A detector device is provided for stopping the braiding machine when a thread breaks.

This consists of a rod 63 whichpasses through the hollow head 52 and also through the hollow spindle 15 and terminates, at its lower end, in a plug 64. The upper end 63a of the rod 63 is laterally offset and looped about a pivot pin 65 which attaches the link 57' to the arm 53', Thus, in service, when tension is applied to the thread and the arm 58 is raised, the plug 64 will be lifted so as to clearastop device on the machine, but in case of breakage of the thread, the plug will be dropped as the arm 53 moves down ward and will serve as a trigger to operate the stop mechanism. This stop mechanism is not herein illustrated, as it forms no part of the present invention, but it may be of suitable type.

The let-oif mechanism is threaded as fol lows: The yarn is taken off the bobbin and passed through the loop 48, around the hook 46 andagain through the loop 48 to the eye 49. Thence the yarn passes through said eyeover the saddle 62, through the eye 54 of the tension arm, and finally through the eye 61 of the top guide 60.

The operation of the device is as follows: As the yarn is drawn off through the eye 61, the arm 53 is drawn up to the position shown in Fig. 1 and thereby extends the spring 55 which exerts the requisite tension on the yarn. At the same time, the yarn draws up the hook 46, compressing the spring 42 and lifting the rider 43 clear of the teeth 38 on the stop disk 37. The bobbin is then free to turn and permit the yarn to be drawn thereoif. As the carrier pursues its sinuous orbital movement, the frame carrying the let off mechanism does not partake of the intermittent rotary motion of the carrier but floats freely thereon until the disks 17 to 20 reach such a position as to check relative movement of the carrier and frame in one direction or the other. By using a train of disks, each having a loose connection with the next acent' disk, it will be evident that theframe and the let oflf mechanism it carries will'be free to turn through considerably more than one full rotation with respect to the carrier base 16. vAs a matter of fact, in the particular construction illus-. trated, provision is made for more than three full turns. Movement is arrested when the bar 26 engages the lugBO, ear 25 engages ear 26, car 23 engages the ear 24, and ear 22 engages the lug 21 and in the reverse direction, the parts must move through more than three. full rotations before the washers will lock in similar manner by engagement with opposite sides of the respective lugs and ears. When such engagement takes place the freely floating frame rebounds and starts turning in the opposite direction relative to the carrier spindle.

As explained above the carrier spindleis subject to severe strain due to the centrifugal V throw of the parts carried thereon, at each reversal in its sinuous orbit. As heretofore. constructed the spindles frequently break at or near their connection to the carrler bases.

In the present construction such breakage is.

that this is done for purposes ofillustration and not as limitative of the invention and that I consider myself, at liberty to make such variations in construction and arrangements of parts as may be desirable and as fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims. I claim: V r I. In 7 a supply carrier for braiding ma chines, a carrier base, asupport for a supply of yarn, thread or the like mounted rotatably the reon, let ofi' means also mounted rotatably. on the carrier base and permitting regulated delivery of thread or the like fromsaid support by rotation of the support relative to said let-off means, and a plurality of annular stop members intermediate said base and letoff means and having projections progressively interengaging to limit relative rotary motion between the let-ofi means and said base.

' 2. In a supply carrier for braiding machines, a carrier base, a frame, a support for asupply of yarn, thread or the like rotatable on thevframe to deliver thread or the like from the support, let-off means carried by the frame for re ulating delivery of thread from said support, the frame being mounted to 1'0? tate. freely on the carrier base between fixed limits to facilitate oscillating rotative moves ment of said base relativeto said frame member during the progress of the base through a. sinuous orbit without corresponding rotative movement of said let-off means.

3. In a supply carrier for braiding machines, a carrier base, a frame, a support for a supply of yarn, thread or the like rotatable on the frame to deliver thread or the like from the support, and let-off means carried by the'frame for regulating delivery of thread from said support, part of the let-off means being housed within the thread support, the frame being mounted to rotate freely on the carrier base between fixed limits to facilitate oscillating rotative movement of said base relative to said frame during its progress through a sinuous path without corresponding rotative movement of said let-0E means.

4:. In a thread delivery mechanism for braiding machines, a carrier base, a frame rotatably mounted on the base, a thread support rotatablymounted on the frame, stop means for preventing rotation of the support relative to the frame, a spring urging'said stop means into operative position, and a sleeve of flexible material covering said spring and sealed at opposite ends thereof.

5. In a thread delivery mechanism for braiding machines, a carrier base, a frame rotatably mounted on the base, a thread support rotatably mounted on the frame, a post carried by the frame exterior to the thread support, a rider slidable on said post, a spring on the post urging the rider into engagement with the thread support to arrest rotation of the latter relative to the frame, and a sleeve of flexible material covering the spring and sealed at one end to the rider'and'at the other endtothepost. 1

6. In a thread delivery mechanism for braiding machines, a carrier base, a frame mounted to rotate thereon, a tubular thread support rotatable on the frame, a thread letoif device laterally spaced from the thread support and carried by the frame,and a thread tensioning device above the thread support and carried by a part of the frame passing through the tubular thread support.

7. In a thread delivery mechanism for braiding machines, a frame provided with a vertical journal member and a lateraly offset post, a tubular thread support rotatably mounted on the journal member and provided 7 with a toothed base flange, .a rider slidable on the post toengage a tooth of said base flange, a hook on the rider adapted to be engaged by the thread from the thread support to lift the rider out of engagement with said toothrwh'en the tension on the thread exceeds a predetermined amount, and a thread tensioning mechanism supported on said journal member and; including 'an arm adapted ,to beswung upward by the tension of the "thread and a spring carried by the journal member tending to draw the arm downward, the arm being so disposed that when swung to vertical posi-I tion it may be passed through the tubular thread support.

8. In a thread delivery mechanism for braiding machines, a carrier base having a spindle, a frame provided with a journal member rotatably mounted on the spindle, the frame being also provided with a laterally offset vertical post, a tubular thread support rotatably mounted on the journal member and provided with a toothed base flange, a rider slidably mounted on the post and adapted normally to engage a tooth of said base flange, means on the rider for lifting the rider out of engagement with the flange when the tension on the thread exceeds apredetermined amount, a thread tensioning mechanism'supported on said journal member and including an arm adapted-to be swung upward by tension of the thread and a spring carried by the journal membertending to-draw the arm downward, and a device for detecting broken threads, said device being connected-at one end-to said arm and extending through the journal memher and the carrier spindle. i

9. 'A supply carrier for braiding machines comprising a carrier base; a spindle; a frame provided with let-off mechanism and mounted rotatably upon said spindle; and a series of annular stop members fitted rotatably upon said spindle intermediate said base and frame and serving as means for limiting relative rotary motion therebetween to aplurality :of' turns, said series of annular stop members ineluding a lower member having a downwardly extending projection adapted to engage at times a co-operating part of said base, an upper member having a projection adapted to be engaged with a co-operating part of said frame, an intermediate member having down wardly and upwardly extending projections adapted to be engaged at times with said projections on said lower and upper members re spectively, and a spacing member between said intermediate member and one of said other members. I

In testimony whereof, I have'signed this 

